Will Hague prioritize “gas grabbing” over human rights in Azerbaijan visit?
Dec 17, 2013
Today Foreign Secretary William Hague will be one of the first European politicians to visit Azerbaijan after Ilham Aliyev’s internationally condemned re-election as President. Hague will be there to attend the ceremony for the signing of a pipeline agreement that will see two trillion cubic meters of gas pumped from Azerbaijan to Europe. Hague will...
Protest in London today in solidarity with Kazakhstan oil workers
Dec 16, 2013
Oil industry trade unionists and other campaigners in London today demanded that UK foreign secretary William Hague put pressure on Kazakhstan to release workers jailed for their part in a seven-month strike in 2011. Campaigners handed in a letter at the Foreign Office, and then demonstrated at the Kazakh embassy. The protest marked the second...
Statoil ends music sponsorship after growing controversy in Norway
Dec 16, 2013
Ragnhild Freng Dale reports on an important development in anti-oil sponsorship campaigning in Norway. October 2013 marked an important milestone for the Norwegian artists fighting the oil sponsorship of the arts in their country: Statoil ended their longstanding Bylarm-sponsorship for pop and rock music. Stretching six years back in time, Statoil and ByLarm have collaborated...
Statoil sponsoring tennis? You can NOT be serious!!
Dec 16, 2013
Sunniva Taylor and Christopher Garrard report back from the Statoil-sponsored Tennis Masters that took place in London recently. Statoil, the 66% Norwegian government owned oil and gas company, were the big name corporate sponsors of this year’s Tennis Masters at the Royal Albert Hall, for the second year running. The event lasted five days...
The EBRD should not finance oil drilling in Egypt
Dec 16, 2013
Today the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is voting on a $50 million loan for oil drilling in Egypt. This is the first major loan by the bank in Egypt since the military takeover in July 2013. The EBRD seems eager to ignore the principles in its founding agreement promoting “initiatives in countries committed...
Ogoni protests escalate in Nigeria as Shell fails to implement UNEP report
Dec 11, 2013
A few weeks ago we were crammed into a small radio station studio in Port Harcourt. We listened with bated breath to our friend Celestine AkpoBari from the Ogoni Solidarity Forum being interviewed. “There is no going back on the 90 day deadline ultimatum delivered to the Nigerian Government and oil companies to implement the...
Tate members AGM dominated again by BP sponsorship controversy
Dec 10, 2013
Sunniva Taylor and Louisa Wright report back from another fiesty session at the Tate Members AGM. This year’s Tate Members AGM on Friday 6th December was once again dominated by controversy about BP sponsorship. Three members announced their resignation and difficult questions were asked about the morality and necessity of ongoing BP sponsorship. Outside...
BP sponsorship provokes Tate Member resignations at AGM
Dec 6, 2013
As Christmas approaches, there’s a lot of Tate social media suggesting that you give the gift of Tate membership to your loved ones this year. But there are a number of Tate members who feel that membership means “just pay your fees and don’t ask questions.” The annual Tate Members AGM looks set to be...
Canadian museum accepts oil sponsor despite censorship
Dec 2, 2013
Last week the Canadian Museum of Civilisation announced it had struck a sponsorship deal with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. It’s easy to see why this will be a PR coup for CAPP. But the Museum CEO’s beaming acceptance of oil money seems like an announcement that no lines will be drawn and no...
Namatjira in London: art and cultural survival
Nov 29, 2013
Taking place here in London, Big hArt’s production of Namatjira offers audiences a poetic engagement with Aboriginal Australia in the heart of the empire responsible for its colonisation. Sharp humour, playful performances and a moving story of a life that spanned most of the 20th century all combine to make a magical and powerful piece of theatre. Scott Rankin’s...
“Why should I forgive you after all that I’ve seen?” Refineries and resistance in Texas
Nov 28, 2013
Over September and October, three Platform staff traveled across North America to promote The Oil Road as well as learn from colleagues and friends there. This is the most recent blog by James Marriott from that trip, but you can also read how James travelled across the ocean by container ship and studied the history...
A Cheque Written in Blood: the Niger Delta remembers Ken Saro-Wiwa
Nov 19, 2013
It’s the middle of the night but I can’t sleep. It’s quiet apart from the dull hum of the aeroplane engine and the erratic, staccato snoring of the man next to me. There’s no need to put on one of the films. It’s the pictures in my mind that are keeping me awake. I see...
